Pune: Cybercrime cases in Pune continue to rise as cybercriminals use increasingly sophisticated tactics to defraud residents.

On Wednesday (October 16) alone, nine cases totaling ₹3,35,03,177 were registered at various police stations in the city. The victims were lured into schemes that promised significant profits through stock market trading, online task jobs, and insurance fund collections.

According to police reports, incidents were registered at Bibwewadi, Chandan Nagar, Hadapsar, Sahakar Nagar, and several other police stations.

The cases have been filed under the Information Technology Act and for fraud. Despite the registration of these cases, investigations are progressing slowly due to the lack of skilled personnel and technical resources available to the police.

Police authorities noted a steady increase in cybercrime cases over the past few months, highlighting the need for greater public awareness and preventive measures. A gap in public knowledge about cybercrime has been identified as a significant challenge in combating such incidents.

Among the incidents reported was a case where a 65-year-old senior citizen lost ₹23.53 lakhs after being contacted by fraudsters pretending to be representatives of the India Finance Authority.

The scammers convinced the victim to deposit the money under the guise of an insurance fund. In another incident, a young man was swindled out of ₹34.69 lakhs with the promise of lucrative returns through stock market investments. Another case also involved fraudulent stock market investment schemes.

Authorities are urging residents to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of any financial offers, especially those that come through digital or phone communication.